The Salvation Army is ramping up their Christmas activities.
With registration for Christmas Hampers running this week and ending on Nov. 17 at 4 p.m. in the dining hall in the main Salvation Army building on 272 Borland St., the Salvation Army is still seeking businesses and sponsors to adopt a family for Christmas sponsorship.
The hampers will be distributed on Dec. 21 and 22.
“Everyone will come and pick up their hamper and their toys, so that will be a crazy two days but it’s worth it in the end to see the kids and hear the stories … When you hear a kid on the playground afterwards say, ‘Oh I got such-and-such you know that they are one of ours and it just warms your heart a little to know that their Christmas was made special,” says Lieutenant Dawn Butts of the Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army will also be kicking off their Christmas Kettle campaign on Friday November 24 at the Walmart at 1 p.m.
Officials and the public are invited to join for celebration and carolling.
The familiar chime of the bells will sound throughout the lakecity.
From the money donated in the kettles, Butt said that 88 cents from every dollar stays in Williams Lake.
“It is staying in the community and it goes right back into community programs,” she said.
The kettles are one of the biggest Salvation Army fundraisers of the year.
On top of that, the Salvation Army will be serving their annual Christmas dinner on December 23.
They are also on the lookout for volunteers to help serve, wash dishes, sing or even play instruments.
As Dawn and her husband Geoff, who both co-ordinate the Salvation Army put it, they are always in need of “volunteers, volunteers, volunteers.”
“It’s a way to give back to the community. It’s a way to give those kids, give those families a Christmas they might otherwise not get,” said Dawn.
“Christmas is one of the most stressful times of the year,” said Geoff.
“And it’s stressful enough when you actually don’t have to worry about where your next meal is coming from and if you can make rent.”
If you are interested in volunteering or adopting a family, you can give Tamara Robinson a call at 250-392-2423 or if you are interested in volunteering with anything with the Salvation Army, or have any questions, give Dawn Butt a call at 250-392-2423. For volunteering with the kettles, call Sandra at 250-267-1867.